Can You Hear Me Now? History of the Hearing Aid

                                                                                         

Most of us are lucky to have good hearing, which we typically take for granted. But what about those who suffer from hearing loss? Typically, we envision people with hearing loss as elderly people. However, people of all ages, including newborns, kids, young adults, middle-aged people, and, yes, the elderly. Just as the ages of people vary, so does the intensity of the hearing loss, with some people only having a minor hearing loss (that they might not even notice), others completely deaf, and many people somewhere in the middle.

Although they cannot help all levels and types of hearing loss, hearing aids help many people hear more clearly and live a more-fulfilling life. But when were hearing aids first used and how have they developed into the hearing aids that we use today? Below is a brief history of this life-changing, but often-overlooked, device.

EAR TRUMPETS

The earliest forms of hearing aids were called ear trumpets, which basically consisted of a hollow cone or horn held to a person's ear in order to amplify sound. The premise behind these horns was simple: it amplified sound and was able to improve the signal-to-noise ratio in a noisy environment; something that could be achieved (on a smaller scale), by simply cupping your hand behind your ear.

ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS

Through the development of electricity as a viable power source and Alexander Graham Bell's work on the telephone, it became possible to have a machine amplify sound electronically with microphone and battery components.

Early versions of the electronic hearing aids, which began to appear at the beginning of the 20th century, had a tendency to be cumbersome, expensive, and limited in battery life.

A desktop hearing aid model became available in the 1930s. This new concept was large, but easier to manage. However, the $400 price tag was quite prohibitive (since $400 at that time would be the equivalent to over $6,000 today).

MOVING TO TODAY'S HEARING AIDS

The continued use of vacuum tubes, combined with the ability to create smaller batteries, helped shrink hearing aids down to pocket size in the 1940s. This allowed the hearing aids to be portable and easy to carry.

The 1950s showcased the first discreet, over-the-ear models in the market. Although these hearing aids were visible, they were much easier to use and much more discreet than previous hearing aids.

The first inside-the-ear hearing aids were introduced in the 1970s. Still striving for better products, inventors have been able to incorporate the use of digital technology to help users adjust tonality to enhance their listening ability.

FUTURE OF HEARING AIDS

Although hearing aids have come a long way from the ear trumpet, there is still plenty of room to grow in hearing aid technology. The future will most likely see even smaller (almost undetectable) and more powerful hearing aids.

About the author:
For top-of-the-line hearing aids in the Phoenix area and other assistive listening devices for Phoenix residents, visit Mesa audiologist Cassandra M. Fynes today.

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